EP1485651B1 - Cooking hob from tempered glass or other thermodegradable materials - Google Patents

Cooking hob from tempered glass or other thermodegradable materials Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1485651B1
EP1485651B1 EP03739599A EP03739599A EP1485651B1 EP 1485651 B1 EP1485651 B1 EP 1485651B1 EP 03739599 A EP03739599 A EP 03739599A EP 03739599 A EP03739599 A EP 03739599A EP 1485651 B1 EP1485651 B1 EP 1485651B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
burner
supporting surface
cooking hob
circumferential ring
cooking
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP03739599A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1485651A1 (en
Inventor
Angelo Bettinzoli
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sabaf SpA
Original Assignee
Sabaf SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sabaf SpA filed Critical Sabaf SpA
Priority to SI200330733T priority Critical patent/SI1485651T1/sl
Publication of EP1485651A1 publication Critical patent/EP1485651A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1485651B1 publication Critical patent/EP1485651B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24CDOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F24C3/00Stoves or ranges for gaseous fuels
    • F24C3/08Arrangement or mounting of burners
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24CDOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F24C3/00Stoves or ranges for gaseous fuels
    • F24C3/08Arrangement or mounting of burners
    • F24C3/085Arrangement or mounting of burners on ranges
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23DBURNERS
    • F23D14/00Burners for combustion of a gas, e.g. of a gas stored under pressure as a liquid
    • F23D14/02Premix gas burners, i.e. in which gaseous fuel is mixed with combustion air upstream of the combustion zone
    • F23D14/04Premix gas burners, i.e. in which gaseous fuel is mixed with combustion air upstream of the combustion zone induction type, e.g. Bunsen burner
    • F23D14/06Premix gas burners, i.e. in which gaseous fuel is mixed with combustion air upstream of the combustion zone induction type, e.g. Bunsen burner with radial outlets at the burner head
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23DBURNERS
    • F23D2900/00Special features of, or arrangements for burners using fluid fuels or solid fuels suspended in a carrier gas
    • F23D2900/14Special features of gas burners
    • F23D2900/14062Special features of gas burners for cooking ranges having multiple flame rings

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a cooking hob according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • heating hob is meant, in what follows, any installation for the cooking of foodstuff provided with a support for housing at least one burner designed for supplying heat to the foodstuff itself, comprising in this term installations such as, for example, surfaces equipped for cooking or cooking ranges.
  • tempered glass a material which, in its most typical compositions, poorly withstands temperatures higher than 280°C, is in any case more desirable in so far as tempered glass is able, from the aesthetic standpoint as well as the maintenance standpoint, to replace pyroceram, the use of which in cooking hobs entails extremely high costs.
  • cooking hobs having a supporting surface made of pyroceram is, in fact, particularly widespread on account of its aesthetic qualities and the simple cleaning operations that such cooking hobs require.
  • the cooking hobs made of said material do not present any structural or mechanical degradation to thermal stresses coming from the burners, even though they prove particularly expensive and difficult to model.
  • Said solution which entails the use of metal plates having a plan extension that is other than negligible, is able to prevent fractures in the cooking hob, but is aesthetically far from pleasant and constitutes an obstacle to cleaning of the cooking hob.
  • such metal plates may be shaped like concave containers or trays, at the centre of which is housed the burner. This implies the drawback of accumulation of grease and ashes in the plate, with consequent inconvenience for cleaning of the cooking hob, as well as the need to achieve a considerable precision of fabrication and of assembly of the plates, which need to have low dimensional tolerances, as compared to the specific techniques envisaged in the design phase.
  • gas burners used with said protective plates are generally of the type in which the intake of primary air takes place underneath the cooking hob, given the overall dimensions of the protective plate itself and the laborious problems involved in making air-inflow inlets set above said plate.
  • Gas burners in which the flow of primary air for combustion comes from underneath the cooking hob are less efficient and usually of larger dimensions as compared to burners in which the primary air is taken in above the cooking hob and likewise involve the presence of appropriately designed air intakes in the supporting surface, which, above all in brittle materials, such as tempered glass, can prove difficult to produce.
  • EP-A-0 908 682 discloses a cooking hob with a supporting surface provided with at least one hole, within which is housed a gas burner of the type comprising a burner base, a burner head having at least one flame crown and a circumferential ring set between the burner head and said supporting surface of the cooking hob.
  • cooking hobs with a supporting surface made of stainless steel or other materials that are structurally resistant to heat but aesthetically degradable, such as enamelled steel, said cooking hobs tend, in the proximity of the burners, to undergo deformation and to change colour permanently, thus rendering the cooking hob itself somewhat unpleasant from the aesthetic point of view.
  • the present invention provides a surprising solution to the drawbacks that arise with the use, for the supporting surface in cooking hobs comprising one or more atmospheric gas burners, of materials that are physically and/or only structurally degradable when set in the presence of heat sources.
  • a purpose of the present invention is to provide a cooking hob having a supporting surface for housing the burners which is made of a material that is degradable in the presence of thermal emissions, which does not present the drawbacks referred to above, and at the same time is of pleasant appearance and simple to produce and maintain.
  • Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a cooking hob having a support made of a material that is degradable in the presence of thermal emissions and is provided with at least one gas burner, in which the latter is of the type that envisages the inflow of primary air from above the support that houses the burner itself.
  • the present invention intends to protect a cooking hob which has a support made of a material, the physical characteristics of which or the structure of which are degradable in the proximity of heat sources, and provided with at least one hole, within which is housed, at least partially, a gas burner of the type comprising a burner base and a burner head with at least one flame crown.
  • Said burner is provided with a circumferential ring set between the flame crown and the supporting surface, said circumferential ring having a plan diameter equal to or greater than the diameter of said flame crown and being made of steel, or aluminium, or aluminium alloys, or brass, or ceramic, or plastic technopolymers with ceramic fillers or with fibre fillers that are resistant to high temperatures.
  • the action of the circumferential ring is that of shielding the latter from the irradiation coming from the burner and from the heated recipient, in order to prevent, in the proximity of the said burner, there being formed temperature gradients such as might cause fracturing of the said supporting surface.
  • the circumferential ring also has the function of dissipating the heat transmitted by irradiation and by conduction along the burner.
  • the circumferential ring is separate from the support of the cooking hob in such a way that the space existing between the support and the circumferential ring will enable passage of the primary air directed to the burner, this implying the use of a burner of the type in which the primary air is taken in above the cooking hob.
  • the primary air inflow which is drawn, for example, by a horizontal Venturi tube (also known as radial Venturi), with which the burner can be equipped, contributes to cooling down both the circumferential ring and the supporting surface in the proximity of the burner.
  • a horizontal Venturi tube also known as radial Venturi
  • the circumferential ring has a plan diameter greater than or equal to the diameter of the hole within which the burner is housed.
  • the burner is of the type comprising two or more flame crowns, and the supporting surface is made of tempered glass.
  • the present invention relates, with reference to Figure 1, to the use of at least one gas burner 2, 3a, 3b or 3c with one or more flame crowns in a cooking hob, for example, a domestic cooking hob, provided with a supporting surface 1 made of a material the physical characteristics of which or the structure of which are degradable in the presence of heat sources, such as, for example, tempered glass, stainless steel, or enamelled steel.
  • a cooking hob having a supporting surface made of a degradable material.
  • Figure 1 illustrates, then, purely by way of non-limiting example, a cooking hob provided with a supporting surface 1, for example, made of tempered glass, on which are arranged, in purposely provided seats, a burner 2 with three flame crowns and three burners 3a, 3b, 3c having just one flame crown.
  • the burner 2 comprises, according to the present invention, a burner base 4 and a burner head 5 bearing the above-mentioned three flame crowns, as well as a circumferential ring 9 set between the flame crowns and the supporting surface 1.
  • the outermost flame crown, defined in the burner head 5 by peripheral holes 26, can be seen in Figure 2.
  • the base 4 of the burner 2 is housed in a circular hole made in the said supporting surface 1 (and set in a position corresponding to the portion designated by 22 in Figure 2), supported by a plurality of flat springs 8 set opposite to a circular flange 7, between which is set the portion of the supporting surface 1 adjacent to the housing hole.
  • the burner 2 is likewise provided with a supporting grill 6 for a cooking container.
  • the burner 2 comprises a base 4 set underneath the supporting surface 1, which is made of tempered glass, in which there is set an injector 23 for the combustible gas.
  • the base 4 presents peripheral ramifications or projections 24, which engage in the seat of the supporting surface 1 and carry both the flange 7 and the flat springs 8.
  • the coupling of the springs 8 to the circular flange 7 and the mutual clamping thereof, after prior interposition of the edges of the housing hole of the burner 2, enables stable fixing of the burner base 4 to the supporting surface 1.
  • the base 4 of the burner 2 can be housed in a circular hole of the supporting surface 1, without coming into contact with the latter and being supported, for example, by elastic means, on a structural element of the cooking hob set underneath the supporting surface 1 and not visible to the user.
  • a burner head that has a central body 12, closed by a top lid 10 and equipped, once more according to the prior art, with a horizontal Venturi tube (or radial Venturi) 11 for mixing of the gas with the primary air, and with a distribution chamber having holes facing outwards and designed to define a first central flame crown.
  • the burner head further comprises a toroidal body 13, which is surmounted by a an annular lid 14 and connected to the horizontal Venturi 11 and/or to the distribution chamber of the body 12 by appropriate radial channels (not illustrated), and which presents an inner series of holes and an outer series of holes designed for defining, respectively, a second flame crown and a third flame crown.
  • the second flame crown is, in particular, set in opposition to the first central flame crown, and the burner 2 is moreover provided with a grill 6 designed for supporting a cooking container.
  • the burner 2 is of the type in which the primary air I is taken in, thanks to the suction exerted by the Venturi 11, from above the supporting surface 1, penetrates, via channels (not illustrated), into the chamber defined by the burner base 4, and then is mixed with the gas coming out of the nozzle 23 in said horizontal Venturi (or radial Venturi) 11.
  • a burner of the type referred to above is known from the patent application EP-A-0.903.538 or from the publication EP-A-0.797.048.
  • the burner 2 likewise presents a circumferential ring 9, which is made of the same material as or of a material different from that of the burner, set coaxial to the vertical axis of the said burner and set between the flame crowns and the supporting surface 1 made of tempered glass.
  • the ring 9 is separate from the supporting surface 1, and the primary air I is induced to enter the burner above the supporting surface 1 and underneath the ring 9.
  • the above-mentioned shielding action which brings about lowering of the temperature of those areas of the supporting surface 1 in the proximity of the burner 2, has surprisingly proved sufficient for preventing the substantial degradation of the material of which the supporting surface 1 is made.
  • the interposition of the ring 9 prevents the generation of fractures and makes possible the use of said economic material in the production of cooking hobs.
  • the ring 9 has enabled reduction or elimination of the formation of halos or deformations of the supporting surface 1.
  • the contribution of the flow of primary air I in the action of local cooling is deemed particularly important, albeit not essential, in the case of brittle materials, such as tempered glass.
  • the ring 9 acts also partially as a heat sink, by conduction, of the heat produced by the burner 2 itself, thus lowering the temperature of the latter in the proximity of the said ring 9 and, hence, the temperature in proximity of the hole housing the burner in the supporting surface 1.
  • the plan diameter of the circumferential ring 9 is greater than the diameter of the hole present in supporting surface 1 made of tempered glass and is also greater than the plan diameter of the outermost flame crown defined by the toroidal body 13. In this way, the ring 9 extends, in plan view, from the burner base 4, or from the burner head 5, up to beyond the flame crown made along the outer perimeter of the toroidal body 13.
  • the ring 9, as may be seen in Figure 3, is moreover preferably shaped substantially like a truncated cone with the major base facing the supporting surface 1 so as to prevent any possible residue of food that may come out of the cooking container from getting stuck on the ring 9, with the risk of combustion thereof.
  • Alternative embodiments of the ring 9 made with a convex shape have proven equally effective.
  • the circumferential ring 9 may be made separately from the burner 2 and coupled, by juxtaposing the various parts, to the latter, but may also be made integrally with an element of the burner 2 itself.
  • the ring 9 be coupled to a burner of the type described in EP-A-0.797.048, i.e., a burner, which comprises an inner metal plate shaped for separation of the fluid flows, said ring 9 may be made of a single piece with said inner metal plate, thus considerably simplifying its production.
  • Materials that may be suitable for the production of the ring 9 are steel, aluminium alloys (Al-Si or Al-Ni), or other alloys or metal materials, such as brass, or else ceramics or plastic technopolymers with ceramic fillers or with fibre fillers that are resistant to high temperatures.
  • Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention, in which, on a cooking hob provided with a supporting surface 1 made of a thermally degradable material, there is fit an atmospheric gas burner 3 of the type comprising just one flame crown.
  • the burner 3 comprises: a burner base 15 fit in a housing hole made on the supporting surface 1; elastic means for coupling to the supporting surface 1, which consist of one or more flat springs 21 and a circular flange 20 for being set opposite to said springs; a burner head 16; and a top lid 17.
  • the base 15 is withheld in position thanks to the interposition of the edges of the hole for housing the supporting surface 1 between the spring 21 and the circular flange 20 and comprises a chamber, within which there is present an injector 23, fluid-connected to a pipe 25 for supplying the combustible gas.
  • the burner head 16 of the burner comprises a horizontal Venturi 18, constituted, according to the known art, of a reduced section portion and of a radial expansion chamber, and is enclosed by the lid 17. At the radial ends of the expansion chamber there is a portion for distribution of the gas-primary air I mix, which presents a series of holes that form the flame crown of the burner 3.
  • the burner 3 likewise presents, connected by interposition of parts, a circumferential ring 19, which extends from the burner head 16 of the burner up to beyond the flame crown.
  • the said circumferential ring 19 is separate from the supporting surface 1 in order to enable inflow of the primary air between the said supporting surface 1 and the ring 19.
  • the effect of shielding from irradiation and of cooling of the supporting surface 1 by the flow of the incoming primary air I, obtained thanks to the ring 19, enables the use of cooking hobs provided with supporting surfaces made of thermally degradable materials, such as, for example, tempered glass, stainless steel, or enamelled steel.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Gas Burners (AREA)
  • Baking, Grill, Roasting (AREA)
  • Pre-Mixing And Non-Premixing Gas Burner (AREA)
  • Surface Treatment Of Glass (AREA)
EP03739599A 2002-02-18 2003-01-30 Cooking hob from tempered glass or other thermodegradable materials Expired - Lifetime EP1485651B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SI200330733T SI1485651T1 (sl) 2002-02-18 2003-01-30 Kuhalno polje iz kaljenega stekla ali iz drugega termorazgradljivega materiala

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITMI20020315 2002-02-18
IT2002MI000315A ITMI20020315A1 (it) 2002-02-18 2002-02-18 Piano di cottura in vetro temprato o altro materiale termicamente degradabile
PCT/IB2003/000283 WO2003069231A1 (en) 2002-02-18 2003-01-30 Cooking hob from tempered glass or other thermodegradable materials

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1485651A1 EP1485651A1 (en) 2004-12-15
EP1485651B1 true EP1485651B1 (en) 2007-03-28

Family

ID=11449278

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03739599A Expired - Lifetime EP1485651B1 (en) 2002-02-18 2003-01-30 Cooking hob from tempered glass or other thermodegradable materials

Country Status (22)

Country Link
US (1) US20050145239A1 (it)
EP (1) EP1485651B1 (it)
JP (1) JP2005517887A (it)
KR (1) KR20040095220A (it)
CN (1) CN2557834Y (it)
AR (1) AR038507A1 (it)
AT (1) ATE358259T1 (it)
AU (1) AU2003245049B2 (it)
BR (1) BR0307694A (it)
CA (1) CA2475080A1 (it)
CO (1) CO5611222A2 (it)
DE (1) DE60312832T2 (it)
ES (1) ES2285140T3 (it)
IL (1) IL163446A (it)
IT (1) ITMI20020315A1 (it)
MX (1) MXPA04008027A (it)
NZ (1) NZ534596A (it)
PL (1) PL371118A1 (it)
PT (1) PT1485651E (it)
RU (1) RU2311590C2 (it)
SI (1) SI1485651T1 (it)
WO (1) WO2003069231A1 (it)

Families Citing this family (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITUD20030137A1 (it) * 2003-06-23 2004-12-24 Sami Srl Bruciatore a tripla corona.
EP1512908A1 (en) * 2003-09-05 2005-03-09 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. Gas burner
CN100360850C (zh) * 2005-07-14 2008-01-09 宁波方太厨具有限公司 具有易清洁的活动式装饰板的燃烧器
EP2295868B1 (de) 2009-09-09 2016-10-26 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Gaskochfeld sowie Gasherd mit diesbezüglichem Gaskochfeld
JP5296718B2 (ja) * 2010-01-28 2013-09-25 東京瓦斯株式会社 加熱調理機器
EP2366953B1 (en) * 2010-03-18 2016-06-15 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. Gas cooking appliance
EP2447605B1 (en) 2010-10-27 2012-12-05 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. Heating element and method of manufacturing a base body of a heating element
ES2669035T3 (es) * 2010-12-22 2018-05-23 Sabaf S.P.A. Quemador de gas
ITTO20110078U1 (it) 2011-07-29 2013-01-30 Indesit Co Spa Bruciatore di gas, in particolare per un apparecchio di cottura per alimenti
ITTO20110960A1 (it) * 2011-10-24 2013-04-25 Indesit Co Spa Griglia di supporto per apparecchi domestici
ES2621792T3 (es) * 2011-11-04 2017-07-05 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. Conjunto de quemador de gas, placa de cocina de gas y electrodoméstico con quemadores de gas
ITTO20111190A1 (it) * 2011-12-22 2013-06-23 Indesit Co Spa Piano di cottura, in particolare ad uso domestico
EP2607789B1 (en) * 2011-12-22 2017-02-01 Indesit Company S.p.A. A cooking top, in particular for household use
CN107975830B (zh) * 2017-05-25 2023-11-17 宁波方太厨具有限公司 一种灶具支架
US11085645B2 (en) * 2018-05-31 2021-08-10 Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. Eductor for a gas cooktop appliance

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3123751C3 (de) * 1981-06-15 1998-01-29 Sabaf Spa Gasbrenner für eine Kochplatte
DE4125308C2 (de) * 1991-07-31 2002-06-13 Isphording Germany Gmbh Gasbrenner
ATE184384T1 (de) 1996-03-19 1999-09-15 Sabaf Spa Gasbrenner für küchengeräte
JP3711182B2 (ja) * 1997-01-20 2005-10-26 株式会社ハーマンプロ コンロ用ガスバーナ
SI0908682T1 (en) * 1997-10-08 2002-08-31 Sabaf S.P.A. Gas burner for domestic appliances
US6299436B1 (en) * 1997-10-20 2001-10-09 Bsh Home Appliances Corporation Plurality fingered burner
FR2804496B1 (fr) * 2000-01-28 2002-07-19 Sourdillon Sa Bruleur a gaz a multiples couronnes de flammes
IT1318126B1 (it) * 2000-07-06 2003-07-23 Sabaf Spa Bruciatore con separatore interno
DE20016145U1 (de) * 2000-09-18 2001-01-18 Schott Glas, 55122 Mainz Kochfeld mit mindestens einem atmosphärischen Gasbrenner

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
RU2311590C2 (ru) 2007-11-27
RU2004127919A (ru) 2006-02-10
SI1485651T1 (sl) 2007-06-30
NZ534596A (en) 2006-07-28
IL163446A (en) 2009-06-15
KR20040095220A (ko) 2004-11-12
US20050145239A1 (en) 2005-07-07
BR0307694A (pt) 2005-01-04
JP2005517887A (ja) 2005-06-16
CN2557834Y (zh) 2003-06-25
PL371118A1 (en) 2005-06-13
CO5611222A2 (es) 2006-02-28
DE60312832T2 (de) 2007-08-16
DE60312832D1 (de) 2007-05-10
AU2003245049B2 (en) 2008-03-20
EP1485651A1 (en) 2004-12-15
ITMI20020315A1 (it) 2003-08-18
AU2003245049A1 (en) 2003-09-04
ATE358259T1 (de) 2007-04-15
MXPA04008027A (es) 2004-11-26
ITMI20020315A0 (it) 2002-02-18
CA2475080A1 (en) 2003-08-21
ES2285140T3 (es) 2007-11-16
PT1485651E (pt) 2007-06-18
AR038507A1 (es) 2005-01-19
WO2003069231A1 (en) 2003-08-21

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP1485651B1 (en) Cooking hob from tempered glass or other thermodegradable materials
AU2009262766B2 (en) Cooktop swirl burner
PL190118B1 (pl) Palnik gazowy do kuchenki gazowej
EP1459012B1 (en) Gas burner with several flame sectors
CN108386838A (zh) 燃烧器及燃气灶具
CN101438935B (zh) 一种多功能锅架
US6435173B1 (en) Combined burner and grate
CN212378027U (zh) 一种用于灶具的聚能组件
US6691699B1 (en) Cooking plate
CN208108096U (zh) 燃烧器及燃气灶具
CN112815360A (zh) 一种灶具
CN208312369U (zh) 燃烧器和燃气灶具
KR100571282B1 (ko) 가스 곤로
CN218583219U (zh) 一种双层聚能隔热炉架
CN212869873U (zh) 一种商用燃气炒灶铸造炉膛
CN108386833A (zh) 燃烧器和燃气灶具
CN212777480U (zh) 一种平板式燃气灶
CN212057279U (zh) 一种红外线燃烧器
CN2262188Y (zh) 双室燃气灶
CN210688356U (zh) 一种锅支架及使用该锅支架的燃气灶
CN214536334U (zh) 燃气灶的钣金结构燃烧器
TWI762334B (zh) 擋塊及包括其之鼓風爐灶
JP2002317935A (ja) コンロ用バーナ
CN211146478U (zh) 一种上进风式灶具燃烧器
JPS62272020A (ja) ドロツプインコンロ装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20040914

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL LT LV MK RO

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: HK

Ref legal event code: DE

Ref document number: 1068161

Country of ref document: HK

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20050617

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20050617

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE SI SK TR

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070328

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070328

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070328

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070328

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070328

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 60312832

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20070510

Kind code of ref document: P

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: PT

Ref legal event code: SC4A

Free format text: AVAILABILITY OF NATIONAL TRANSLATION

Effective date: 20070604

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070628

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: HK

Ref legal event code: GR

Ref document number: 1068161

Country of ref document: HK

ET Fr: translation filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2285140

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070328

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CZ

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070328

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070328

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20080102

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070629

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20080125

Year of fee payment: 6

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20080123

Year of fee payment: 6

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20080125

Year of fee payment: 6

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20080125

Year of fee payment: 6

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20080131

Year of fee payment: 6

Ref country code: PT

Payment date: 20080121

Year of fee payment: 6

Ref country code: SI

Payment date: 20080121

Year of fee payment: 6

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20080130

Year of fee payment: 6

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20080131

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: TR

Payment date: 20080122

Year of fee payment: 6

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: EE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070328

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20080130

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070328

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: PT

Ref legal event code: MM4A

Free format text: LAPSE DUE TO NON-PAYMENT OF FEES

Effective date: 20090730

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BG

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070628

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20090130

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 20090801

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20090801

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20090730

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20091030

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20090131

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20090801

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20090130

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: SI

Ref legal event code: KO00

Effective date: 20090914

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20090131

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20090131

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20090202

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20080130

Ref country code: HU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20070929

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20090130

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: TR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20090130